"Vampire/Human Love--With An Edge"

VAMPIRES AT HEART is a two-novella shared anthology with offerings from Kate Hill and Claudia Rose. Dangerous, sensuous, and decidedly determined, the human protagonists of the two stories are truly VAMPIRES AT HEART.

"Much More Than Blood" by Kate Hill

Rosa Ferrer, a bored and rather disenchanted vampiress stuck in a world that is no longer the realm she was born in, finds herself rather desperate for something — different. She finds "different" in Royal Marine Commando Alik Lennox. Tall, strong, devilishly sexy and on the verge of shipping out to the last mission he'll ever take part in, Alik falls all too willingly under Rosa's sensual spell — only afterwards realizing that she's done something to him...changed him, somehow...and he'll never be the same again.

"Much More Than Blood" is another story in Hill's Ancient Blood vampire universe, a world of made vampires and Immaculates, born vampires. Some of the characters will be familiar to readers of her other stories, but there isn't so high a learning curve that this tale is inaccessible to a new reader. The story is explicitly sexy, and both hero and heroine are kick-ass types who get together by choice instead of by destiny, luck, or lack of other options. Though some readers may find annoying Rosa's habit of running roughshod over, well, everything, this is a story where the characters make their decisions and deal with the consequences. Well-written and emotionally engaging, Hill's contribution is great read for vampire lovers and a must- have for fans of Hill's Immaculates.

"Prey For Me" by Claudia Rose

Exiled after finishing up a difficult case, policewoman Jess Croft heads out to the mansion she recently inherited from her great-aunt. She doesn't realize that the house comes complete with her great-aunt's old lover, conveniently walled-up in the basement. Not dead, though. Or, at least, not dead enough — and when Prey's sister comes looking for him she won't let Jess, or anyone else, stand in the way of her goals. It's going to take all of Jess' training, some quick thinking, and a lot of trust if they want to survive.

Suspenseful and action-filled, "Prey For Me," is also a chock-full-of-erotica story with frequent explicit sex in it. But Rose focuses on her characters — most importantly, on Prey and the trouble his sister is so determined to land at his doorstep. The story is romantic and enticing, if a little melodramatic at times (angsty vamp warning!), and succeeds as both romance and erotic story. A fun offering for vampire lovers everywhere, "Prey for Me" is the perfect finale for this anthology.

Sensuality Level: This book has been rated "E-rotic" by the publisher.

Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Courtesy Sensual Romance Reviews
Posted February 29, 2004

Summary

Much More Than Blood by Kate Hill

For years Rosa Ferrer has indulged her every whim, no matter how violent or debauched. What's a spoiled vampiress to do when she's run out of fun? Seek an unsuspecting mortal and create the perfect mate for herself.

Royal Marine Commando Alik Lennox faces his ultimate test of courage against an enemy for which there is no defense. He cannot escape his fate, or can he? In a Scottish pub he meets a beautiful woman with whom he expects to have a one-night stand, a farewell gift to himself. Instead, he finds the impossible. . .

Prey For Me by Claudia Rose

What would you do if you found a handsome vampire in your basement?

Burnt out from solving one violent crime too many, Detective Jessica Croft welcomes the chance to take a break from her job and throw her energy into renovating an old mansion inherited from her Aunt Rose. But Jess's life takes a bizarre turn for the worse when she knocks down a false wall in the basement of her new home and discovers Prey—an enigmatic vampire with a death wish—interred within.

Prey's unintentional liberation attracts demon vampires like bees to a honeypot. Caught in the middle, Jess becomes a reluctant pawn in their sadistic games. Hounded at every step and desperate to survive, she turns to Prey for help. Together they discover a union more intense and intimate than either could have imagined. But can they accept the terrible price they will ultimately have to pay to be together?